NYU Langone Health: High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Smoking Linked to Reduced Dementia-Free Years
A study by NYU Langone Health identified high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking in middle age as factors significantly associated with fewer dementia-free years later in life. The research emphasizes proactive avoidance of these risks for brain health.
Research from NYU Langone Health, analyzing data from over 12,000 individuals, has pinpointed midlife health factors associated with a significant reduction in dementia-free years. The study, published in Neurology Open Access on August 5, highlights high blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking between the ages of 48 and 68 as key contributors to this outcome.
According to the findings, actively averting these conditions in middle age may serve as a strategy for preserving brain health for more than a decade. Josef Coresh, the study's senior investigator, stated that these results underscore the need for individuals to manage these vascular risk factors, especially as 42 percent of Americans are at risk for dementia after age 55.
The study also noted demographic differences, with women generally experiencing more dementia-free years than men. Additionally, White participants had more dementia-free years compared to Black participants, suggesting that certain populations might particularly benefit from targeted prevention efforts.
Coresh encouraged individuals to quit smoking and monitor their vascular health closely starting from age 48. While the study did not aim to prove direct causation, it provides strong correlational evidence for the impact of lifestyle choices on long-term cognitive function. The risk factors were measured only once, but the results offer valuable insights into dementia prevention strategies.